Bike to Work Day - Friday, May 20 /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Bike to Work Day is Back!

Join us for the first in-person Bike to Work Day (BTWD) in two years. We're celebrating National Bike Month in May by bringing back our annual bike ride to Downtown Houston on Friday, May 20, at 7:15 a.m.

This year’s bike ride will begin at the visitor center at Buffalo Bayou Park at Lost Lake, 3422 Allen Parkway, with riders departing promptly at 7:30 a.m. The ride will end at the Hermann Square Reflection Pond at City Hall.

If you can't join us, we challenge you to ride your bicycle to work on May 20 or another day during Bike Month.

Take a picture and tag the Houston Bikeways social media with the hashtag #BTWD2022.

To help make your ride safe and enjoyable, we’ve listed some safety tips below. We’ll also be crowdsourcing some tips on biking on social media, so be sure to follow us and join the conversation.

Twitter @HoustonBikePlan

Facebook

Bike To Work Day website

Submit your Redistricting Feedback Now to July 10 /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The City is embarking on a process to adopt new City Council district boundaries using the information from the 2020 US Census. There will be multiple opportunities to comment and be updated on the process.


Town hall meetings were scheduled in each City Council district in April and May to explain the redistricting process, and to allow the public to give input to the City on how they want their district to look in the future. Capital Improvement Project (CIP) meetings will follow the Redistricting Town Halls. Anyone can attend any redistricting meeting, but Capital Improvement Project updates are specific to the district in which the meeting is held. View the meeting schedule.

A virtual Redistricting town hall meeting will be held May 25. View meeting details.

Public Engagement:

Phase 1: Town hall meetings will be held to obtain public input on how the new districts should be configured. The City wants your input before drawing the new maps; no new maps will be presented at the town hall meetings. Residents may also submit their own redistricting plan to the Planning & Development Department by July 20.

Phase 2: District boundaries are redrawn based on 2020 Census data, the criteria that were approved by City Council, and public input.

Phase 3: Draft Redistricting Plan is completed and presented to City Council.

Phase 4: Public may comment on the proposed new maps at three public hearings in July.

Lights Out for Birds /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The Texas Coast, including the Houston area, is an important migratory path for birds. Most migratory birds fly at night, and lights on buildings can disorient birds on their paths. Businesses and individuals across the city are encouraged to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout spring, and especially during the peak period of April 23rd-May 10th.

District H Town Hall Resources & Recordings /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The District H Town Hall that occurred on Monday, April 25th featured an introduction to the City's redistricting process that is now available online here. The public is encouraged to submit their own districting plan or may propose that certain voting precincts, neighborhoods, or locations be included in a specific district. Learn more here.


Houston Public Works' Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) presentation for District H can be viewed on the District H website. Please note that the presentation provides CIP highlights and does not include all District H projects planned, in progress, or completed.


The full recording of the District H Town Hall, including both redistricting as well as the District's Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) will be available soon on the HTV site here (under Press Conferences / Events Around Town & More). As a reminder, the public can attend any Town Hall meeting, a list of which can be viewed on the Redistricting website here.

District H - Council Redistricting & CIP Town Hall /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The City of Houston is holding meetings to receive public input about redistricting and share information about Capital Improvement Projects. The District H Town Hall will take place in person at Moody Park Recreation Center, as well as virtually on Microsoft Teams.

When: Mon, Apr 25th, 6pm
Where: Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton -OR- Virtual

Details can be found on the Planning and Development Department’s website and in this committee presentation. Please view page 9 of the presentation to see what the 2020 Census determined current populations of Council Districts to be, and why District H will need boundary adjustments to come into compliance. Please note that the public is invited to attend any Town Hall Meeting, not just those within their Council District.

11th Street Safety improvements /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The WHCA recently submitted this letter of support for 11th Street Safety Improvements.

Let’s Talk Houston!

www.LetsTalkHouston.org/11th-street-bikeway

Houston Bikeways Program

www.houstonbikeplan.org | 832-395-2700 | bikeways@houstontx.gov

Houston Vision Zero

Citywide safe streets effort to end traffic deaths and serious injuries. Provide feedback about traffic safety concerns in your neighborhood. www.visionzerohouston.com

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/11th-street-redesign-carbon-zero-goals-houston-16984690.php

Director of Infrastructure | Brad snead

Email infrastructure@woodland-heights.org or complete the form below to contact.

April Member Meeting Tuesday, April 12, 6-7pm /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

https://www.woodland-heights.org/calendar-1/2022/3/8/whca-bi-monthly-member-meeting

Agenda

  • Houston Public Works will make a brief presentation on the North Main Bike Lane Extension, which will run from West Cottage to Airline.

  • WHCA will talk about our Curbside Native Tree Program.

  • We will be accepting nominations for board for May elections.

  • Pickup your 2022 Constable Patrol Sticker or your 100+ club sign.

  • There will be an open forum at the end.

Free Home Tour Ticket for Docent Volunteers!!! /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The tour requires a lot of willing hands to make it a success. Special thanks to all the committee chairs who have been laboring long – even longer than normal this tour, with all the virus-related delays.

SIGN UP FOR A 3 HOUR SHIFT | Afternoons of Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27

You’ll be provided with a script and instructions. You will be guiding visitors through the home while sharing bullet points on history and décor. It’s a great way to support the neighborhood and meet interesting folks.

For Questions Contact Louis Moss, one of our Co-chairs | limoss@comcast.net | 713.703.1412

Curbside native tree project - Trees on sale! /  by Lori Bigler

Curbside Tree Sale
from $0.00

Woodland Heights is known for its beautiful Oak trees. To keep it that way we need to get more trees planted than are being removed.

Curbside trees must be planted in the right of way between the sidewalk and the road.

$100 purchase Includes:

  • One 15 gallon tree

  • Materials for planting (soil, mulch, stakes, tree guard)

  • Naturally replenishing moisture donut/ring

Invasive Tree Removal

City of Houston will remove invasive trees at no cost to the homeowner. WHCA will provide a native tree when one becomes available through donation. Select Invasive Tree Replacement at checkout and we will contact you.

Review the HPARD Invasive Plants list to see if you have any on your curbside.

2021 Curbside Tree Project

26 new trees ranging from live oaks, red buds, red maples, shumard oaks, loblolly pine to pecans were purchased from Trees for Houston. Some were placed on homeowners' property while some were donated. Donated trees were planted curbside on blocks which lacked shade plus some were donated to St. Mark's Methodist Church for planting along Redan.

Big shout out of gratitude and thanks to:

Emily Guyre who recruited four St. Thomas High School students: Jackson Guyre, Philip Gallagher, Landon Croker, and Pablo Ramirez. Ben McClure and Eric Nelson rounded out the team. This crew was incredibly hard working and fun despite the rain.

Thank you to those that donated trees on behalf of neighbors and to Nuro, whose donations sponsored trees along Redan at St. Mark's.

Last but certainly not least, we want to shout out a huge thank you to Ms. Saldana, principal of Hogg MS, for graciously allowing us to use their parking lot for drop off and staging of the trees, mulch and stakes! We appreciate it!

- Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification

Heights Garden Club plant & Seed Swap /  by Alaina Hebert

 
HGC Plant and Seed Swap

We are excited to welcome spring by hosting Heights Garden Club's (HGC) Plant & Seed Swap. We will be set up at the South end of the Norhill Esplanade. WHCA will be setup for Home Tour ticket sales and Constable Patrol sticker pickup.

  • You don't have to be an HGC member to participate but it's open for all to join at https://heightsgardenclub.org/.

  • Bring labeled seeds, clippings, and plants.

  • Bring a chair and your family out to enjoy the day. There will be tables but you may bring your own if you have lots of plants to share.

  • Take plants that will expand varieties in your garden.

  • Native plants are preferred to non-native or invasive plants.

See you Saturday, March 26 from 10-12pm at Norhill Esplanade.

And don’t forget to get your Home Tour Tickets.

 

March WHCA Member Meeting - Postponed to April /  by Alaina Hebert

WHCA March 2022 Member Meeting

Please join us for the March Bi-Monthly General Meeting.

We’ll give updates on the 2022 “Past Meets Present” Home Tour, hear from guests, and take neighbor Q&A. We are also seeking Board Nominations for the May 10, 2022 Elections.

We will have 2022 Constable Patrol stickers for pickup and be looking for Home Tour volunteers.

Bring a chair and a neighbor and we’ll see you on Tuesday, March 8, at 6pm on the South side of Norhill Esplanade.

Check out our curbside tree project and purchase a tree below.

News
Upper East Side Beautification
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Travis Foundation invests in Hügelkultur /  by Alaina Hebert

Rachael Cahan with the Travis Foundation came out to the February WHCA Member Meeting to answer the pressing question. What are those strange mounds?

Has the Travis Spark Park been infested with giant gophers? No, it’s hügelkultur. What? Mounds or raised beds of organic tree material mimicking the fallen debris on a forest floor. Why? The soil surrounding our playing field is in poor condition with many exposed Cypress knees causing a serious trip hazard. Hügelkultur is the long-awaited soil remediation project the Travis Foundation is excited to have had installed during the winter break.

Hügelkultur are mounds constructed to provide a natural, self-fertilizing, slow-release composting soil remediation technique which requires minimal irrigation. Due to its raised nature, hügelkultur are more flood resilient and the answer to our soil and erosion problem.

Clear Perspex has been installed at the end of the mounds so you can take a closer look and watch the magic of decomposition. If you look, you will see distinctive layers of different types of dead tree material. Last year’s big freeze has provided a plethora of material including the bamboo located outside the cafeteria. It has all been put to great use feeding the soil and our beautiful Cypress trees. These mounds will eventually be covered in plants, but this will not happen until after winter, so until then, the plastic fencing will remain.

The Travis Foundation would like to thank all its donors for making this project happen. It has been years in the planning and would not have been possible without them.

For further information or questions, please email contact@travisfoundation.org